Killer apologizes to family

BRAMPTON -- An 18-year-old Mississauga man's sentence for the May 2007 manslaughter of 15-year-old Manny Castillo includes a year's probation and anger management counselling.

Justice Bruce Duncan sentenced the youth today after an emotional morning
where Castillo's father delivered a victim impact statement detailing the
impact of his son's death on the family.

In May, Duncan found the youth, who can't be identified under the Youth
Criminal Justice Act, guilty of manslaughter in Manny Castillo's 2007 death
during a high school rugby game.

Manuel Castillo described his son's death as "the most traumatic experience"
in his family's life.

"Never hearing his voice again creates a silence in our lives," he said.

Outside court, Castillo refused to comment on the sentence but did hand out
copies of his statement in the hope his message about organized sports in
the wake of his son's death would be communicated to the public.

"My personal and own view on how it happened is that there are some hockey
coaches (that) don't seem to teach kids (to) respect their opponents,"
Castillo told court.

"The way that Manny died is clear for me. When a football player hears a
whistle, the players come to a stop but when a hockey player hears a
whistle, they don't come to a stop and instead they begin to fight.

"I hope that organized sports, especially organized sports in schools, puts
a no tolerance policy in place for violence and aggression in sports."

Following submissions from both the Crown and defence, the killer - who
can't be identified because he was 16 at the time - turned to Castillo's
family and expressed his condolences.

"I'm sorry for what happened," he said.

The Crown had been seeking a two- to three-year sentence, opting not to seek an adult sentence. The defence sought a one-year probation.

In addition to the probation and counselling, the man is required to complete 100 hours of community service.